Clients - Federal Advocates, Inc

Amtrak
Clean Water Act Reauth.
Defense Funding
FAA Reauthorization
FEMA
FY09 Appropriations
High-Speed Rail
Homeland Security
Pipeline Safety
Port Development
Public Service Documentaries
Rail Safety, Security and Competition
Safe Drinking Water Act Reauth.
SAFETEA-LU Reauthorization
Transportation Technology
Water Recycling Legislation
Water Resources

Please click here to see what we have accomplished for our clients.

Sante Esposito, Managing Partner

Sante Esposito is an experienced specialist in various legislative issues with over eight years of Federal advocacy and over twenty three years of congressional experience. He represents clients seeking strategic planning, legislative campaigns and Federal advocacy in various areas including highway and rail development; safety and research; aviation safety and promotion; and innovative technology and education. Esposito possesses unmatched institutional knowledge of numerous major infrastructure laws.

He was instrumental to the development of the current Highway Trust Fund program structure; apportionment formulae; project funding process; special treatment of the Highway Trust Fund via firewalls; funding relationships between highways and transit; section 3 transit modifications; highway safety provisions; and rail initiatives. He played a lead role in the landmark “Transportation Equity Assistance Act for the 21st Century” (TEA-21) in 1998 and the "Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991" (ISTEA). He also was the lead staff person on the Amtrak Reform Act and has continued to represent interests and issues related to rail, including the effort to enact high-speed rail, rail safety, rail competition, and Amtrak reauthorization legislation. He also managed legislation enabling Federal support of aviation, Federal buildings and grounds, economic development, water resources, clean water, Superfund, wetlands, and trucking. He drafted legislation, organized hearings, conducted investigations and provided overall coordination of Committee issues and strategy.

He has particular expertise in the Federal appropriations and budget processes. He is a recognized expert on the Parliamentary rules of the House and the Senate, having lectured and taught on the subject. Esposito also enjoys long-standing working relationships with numerous decision-makers in the Congress and Executive Branch. He was very successful in securing various funding and policy matters in SAFETEA-LU, and most recently the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.

Esposito served as Democratic Chief Counsel for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the United States House of Representatives. He also served as Counsel for the House Committee on Budget and the Congressional Budget Office.

Esposito graduated from Fairfield University (1969) cum laude with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law (1973).

Highlights:

• Served as Democratic Chief Counsel for the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure for eleven years under five different chairmen (Howard - NJ; Anderson – CA; Roe – NJ; Mineta – CA; Oberstar – MN).
• The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has jurisdiction over aviation, coast guard, public buildings and grounds, economic development, railroads, highways, mass transit, highway safety, clean water, and water resources. In addition, the Committee has jurisdiction over the following agencies – Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Economic Development Administration (EDA), General Services Administration (GSA), Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
• Worked for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for over 17 years.
• Lead Democratic House staffer for ISTEA and TEA-21.
• After leaving the Hill, secured over $850 million for clients in SAFETEA-LU.
• Because of his experience and ability to deliver, Esposito is widely recognized as one of the most highly regarded transportation experts in Washington, D.C.

Michael Esposito, Partner

Michael Esposito provides congressional and Executive Branch liaison on legislative and policy initiatives with a focus on the appropriations and budget processes. He represents various clients seeking annual funding in the Federal appropriations process. He has successfully secured millions of dollars for municipalities, museums, libraries, aquariums, academic institutions, and various other organizations. In so doing, he has developed extensive contacts with key Members and staff in Congress, as well as with officials of the Executive Branch.

In addition, Esposito has worked extensively in promoting various public policy infrastructure issues pending both before Congress and the Administration. He has been instrumental in securing inclusion of such issues in various authorization bills.

Esposito graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University summa cum laude (2000) with a Bachelors of Science degree in Aeronautical Science and a minor in Aviation Safety. He is a professional pilot and former intern of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Highlights:

• Widely recognized as an expert in securing project funding through the annual Federal appropriations process (particularly for municipality and non-profits).
• Has used his creativity to secure hundreds of millions of dollars for clients.
• Has established relationships with key decision-makers in both Houses and in both political parties.
• Works closely with the following agencies – Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Labor, Department of Education, Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Bureau of Reclamation, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Corps of Engineers, and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).